Australia Fuel Prices – Week of 31 August 2026

Australia Fuel Prices Are Creeping Up Across the Board

Every major fuel type nudged higher nationally this week, with metro U91 settling at 204.8c/L — up 0.9c on last week. It's not a dramatic spike, but the consistency of the rises across unleaded, diesel, and premium grades tells you the trend is pointing in one direction right now. Rural drivers are still paying a significant premium, with U91 averaging 214.1c/L outside metro areas. That's a 9.3c gap between city and country, and it's not closing.

National Snapshot: Metro vs Rural Australia Fuel Prices

Fuel-by-Fuel Breakdown of Australia Fuel Prices

U91 was the week's most active mover in percentage terms, rising 0.9c metro and 0.5c rural. QLD's metro U91 jumped 2.0c on its own, which pulled the national average upward. For drivers running a full tank every week, that kind of steady creep adds up.

Diesel prices Australia wide remain stubbornly elevated, with metro averages at 252.0c/L and rural sitting at 259.0c/L. The week's rural change was minimal at just +0.1c, and QLD rural diesel actually dipped 0.1c — one of the few bright spots in this week's data. WA metro diesel also slipped 0.4c, worth knowing if you're a tradie or fleet operator in Perth.

P95 had the biggest metro movement of all grades, rising 1.0c nationally. QLD again led the charge with a 2.1c jump in metro P95, while VIC rural P95 held completely flat at 0c — a rare week of stability for premium buyers in country Victoria.

Cheapest State for Petrol: SA Leads, ACT Trails

South Australia holds the title of cheapest state for petrol this week, with metro U91 at 202.9c/L — the only state to actually record a fall, down 0.1c. That's a meaningful achievement when every other state was rising. NSW and WA are close behind at 203.8c/L and 204.0c/L respectively, making those three states the best options for metro drivers right now.

The ACT sits at the other end of the spectrum at 208.4c/L for metro U91, up 1.3c on the week. ACT diesel also jumped 2.2c to 259.4c/L — the sharpest diesel rise of any state this week. If you're filling up in Canberra, that stings.

QLD deserves a mention for the wrong reasons. Metro U91 and P95 both rose more than 2.0c this week, driven by what appears to be a pricing cycle upswing hitting at an inconvenient time. Rural WA remains the most expensive rural market nationally at 224.5c/L for U91 — a 20.5c gap above its own metro price.

Supply is also worth watching this week. The number of station-fuels flagged as out of stock has risen to 536 nationally, up from 493 last week. P95 had one of the sharpest jumps in unavailability, rising from 58 to 67 stations dry. VIC, QLD, and SA are carrying the bulk of stock shortfalls with 245, 171, and 120 affected pumps respectively. If your usual station runs P95 in Victoria, it's worth having a backup option in mind.

What This Means for Australian Drivers This Week

Fill up in SA, NSW, or WA if you have the flexibility. SA metro is the standout value at 202.9c/L for U91. Avoid topping up in the ACT if you can hold on, and QLD drivers who can wait a few days may benefit from the pricing cycle turning. For P95 buyers in VIC, call ahead or check the Petrol Smart app before heading out — stock is patchy this week.

Check out our detailed New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and ACT reports for a full state-by-state breakdown of every grade and suburb-level trends.

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